Influence of an improvement in frontal lobe hemodynamics on neurocognitive function in adult patients with moyamoya disease.

BACKGROUND: In adults, moyamoya disease (MMD) often presents with slight neurocognitive impairment, which may result from frontal lobe hemodynamic insufficiency. METHODS: In this study, we performed revascularization surgery by superficial temporal artery-anterior cerebral artery (ACA) direct bypass in 20 adults with MMD with poor anterograde ACA flow (Group M). The pre- and postoperative neurocognitive test results of these patients were retrospectively analyzed. The comparative group (Group C) included 23 patients with unruptured aneurysms or brain tumors who underwent craniotomy, as well as the same neurocognitive tests as Group M. We calculated the compositive frontal lobe function index (CFFI) based on the results of seven neurocognitive tests for each patient, and the difference between the pre- and postoperative CFFI values (CFFI Post - Pre) was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Frontal perfusion improved postoperatively in all patients in Group M. The CFFI Post - Pre was significantly higher in Group M than in Group C (0.23 ± 0.44 vs. - 0.20 ± 0.32; p < 0.001). After adjusting for postoperative age, sex, preoperative non-verbal intelligence quotient, and preoperative period of stress, Group M had a significantly higher CFFI Post - Pre than Group C in the multiple regression analysis (t value = 4.01; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Improving frontal lobe hemodynamics might be the key for improving neurocognitive dysfunction in adults with MMD. The surgical indication and method should be considered from the perspective of both stroke prevention and neurocognitive improvement or protection.

Optimal interval for delayed retrieval surgery with reciprocating morcellators after enucleation of giant prostatic hyperplasia in holmium laser enucleation of the prostate.

Objective: The aim of this research was to evaluate the efficiency of reciprocating morcellation for removing giant benign prostatic hyperplasia during holmium laser enucleation of the prostate, investigate whether performing morcellation as a two-stage procedure improves tissue retrieval efficiency, and seek to determine the optimal interval between the two surgeries. Methods: This study included nine cases of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate with an enucleated prostate weight exceeding 200 g, indicative of substantial prostate enlargement. Morcellation was performed on Day 0 (n=4), Day 4 (n=1), Day 6 (n=1), and Day 7 (n=3). The intervals were compared regarding the morcellation efficiency, beach ball presence, and pathology. Results: The mean estimated prostate volume was 383 (range 330-528) mL; the median enucleation weight was 252 (interquartile range [IQR] 222, 342) g; and the median enucleation time was 83 (IQR 62, 100) min. The mean morcellation efficiency was 1.44 (SD 0.55) g/min on Day 0 and 13.69 (SD 2.46) g/min on day 7. The morcellation efficiency was 4.15 g/min and 10.50 g/min on Day 4 and Day 6, respectively, with significantly higher in the two-stage group compared to one-stage group (11.0 g/min vs. 1.5 g/min; p=0.014). Efficiency was strongly correlated with intervals (p<0.001); the incidences of beach balls were 100% (4/4) and 60% (3/5) in the immediate and two-stage surgery groups, respectively. Conclusion: The efficiency of two-stage morcellation with reciprocating morcellators was highly related to the postoperative interval, with the maximum efficiency reached on Day 7.

The Changes in Broad-spectrum Antimicrobial Consumption during the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Japanese Acute Tertiary-care Hospital: An Interrupted Time-series Analysis.

Objective The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has spread worldwide, and hospitals in Japan have been forced to respond to the situation. This study evaluated the broad-spectrum antimicrobial use before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in an acute tertiary-care hospital. Methods This single-center, retrospective study was conducted between January 2019 and June 2021. Patients We reviewed patients treated with three broad-spectrum antipseudomonal agents: carbapenems, tazobactam/piperacillin, and cefepime. Monthly aggregated hospital antimicrobial consumption was measured as days of therapy (DOTs) per 1,000 patient-days, and the monthly incidences of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MRPA), and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) were recorded. Results The median monthly carbapenem-DOTs during the pre-pandemic and pandemic era were 8.4 and 8.2 per 1,000 patient-days, respectively. A time-series analysis showed non-significant changes in the level between periods (coefficients: 2.08; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -2.9 to 7.0; p=0.44). No change in the trend of monthly carbapenem-DOTs was observed after intervention. No post-intervention changes in the incidence of MRPA or CPE were observed; however, the trend in the incidence of CDI per 1,000 patient-days significantly differed between the two periods (coefficient: -0.04; 95% CI: -0.07, 0.00; p=0.01), and a downward trend was observed in the monthly CDI incidence during the COVID-19 period. Conclusion The consumption of broad intravenous antimicrobial agents has not changed significantly during the pandemic. We need to maintain the quality of medical care, including antimicrobial stewardship, even in specialized resource-limited facilities during a pandemic.